dstf cop rev2 - government of · pdf filelucky queen and bellekeno deposits will be processed...

19
Suite 1150, 200 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4 Phone 604.6334888 Fax 604.688.4887 www.alexcoresource.com September 5, 2012 Robert Holmes, Director, Mineral Resources Government of Yukon Department of Energy, Mines & Resources P.O. Box 2703 Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Dear Mr. Holmes: Regarding: Dry Stack Tailings Facility Construction and Operation Plan Revision 2, QML‐0009 This submission (revision 2) of the Dry Stack Tailings Facility (DSTF) Construction and Operation Plan incorporates the deposition of tailings generated by milling Onek and Lucky Queen ore. Ore from the Onek, Lucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings to be deposited in the existing DSTF. Attachment A, EBA Opinion on Properties of Lucky Queen and Onek Tails For Use in Existing Dry Stack Tailings Facility, Near Bellekeno Mill, YT, provides confirmation that the physical and chemical properties of the tailings that will be produced from the two new ore zones are expected to be very similar to the geological and geotechnical properties of the Bellekeno ore zone tailings. Attachment B provides geochemical characterization of the Onek and Lucky Queen tailings, showing they are geochemically similar to the Bellekeno tailings. The previously submitted and approved Detailed Design DryStacked Tailings Facility Report and the approved Operations, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual for the DSTF, prepared for Alexco by EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd, outline the detailed design and operations of the DSTF. Sincerely, ALEXCO KENO HILL MINING CORP. Brad A. Thrall EVP & Chief Operating Officer Attachments: A. EBA Opinion on Properties of Lucky Queen and Onek Tails For Use in Existing Dry Stack Tailings Facility, Near Bellekeno Mill, YT B. Geochemical Characterization of Onek and Lucky Queen Tailings

Upload: vuongdien

Post on 17-Mar-2018

221 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

 

Suite 1150, 200 Granville StreetVancouver, BC  V6C 1S4

Phone 604.633‐4888 Fax 604.688.4887www.alexcoresource.com 

 

 

September5,2012

RobertHolmes,Director,MineralResourcesGovernmentofYukonDepartmentofEnergy,Mines&ResourcesP.O.Box2703Whitehorse,YukonY1A2C6

DearMr.Holmes:

Regarding:DryStackTailingsFacilityConstructionandOperationPlanRevision2,QML‐0009

Thissubmission(revision2)oftheDryStackTailingsFacility(DSTF)ConstructionandOperationPlanincorporatesthedepositionoftailingsgeneratedbymillingOnekandLuckyQueenore.OrefromtheOnek,LuckyQueenandBellekenodepositswillbeprocessedthroughtheDistrictMillgeneratingcompositetailingstobedepositedintheexistingDSTF.

AttachmentA,EBAOpiniononPropertiesofLuckyQueenandOnekTailsForUseinExistingDryStackTailingsFacility,NearBellekenoMill,YT,providesconfirmationthatthephysicalandchemicalpropertiesofthetailingsthatwillbeproducedfromthetwoneworezonesareexpectedtobeverysimilartothegeologicalandgeotechnicalpropertiesoftheBellekenoorezonetailings.AttachmentBprovidesgeochemicalcharacterizationoftheOnekandLuckyQueentailings,showingtheyaregeochemicallysimilartotheBellekenotailings.

ThepreviouslysubmittedandapprovedDetailedDesignDry‐StackedTailingsFacilityReportandtheapprovedOperations,Maintenance,andSurveillanceManualfortheDSTF,preparedforAlexcobyEBAEngineeringConsultantsLtd,outlinethedetaileddesignandoperationsoftheDSTF.

Sincerely,ALEXCOKENOHILLMININGCORP.

BradA.ThrallEVP&ChiefOperatingOfficer

Attachments:

A. EBAOpiniononPropertiesofLuckyQueenandOnekTailsForUseinExistingDryStackTailingsFacility,NearBellekenoMill,YT

B. GeochemicalCharacterizationofOnekandLuckyQueenTailings

Page 2: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

 

 

 

Attachment A EBA Opinion on Properties of Lucky Queen and Onek Tails For Use in Exisiting Dry Stack Tailings Facility,

Near Bellekeno Mill, YT, EBA 2012  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 3: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

DSTF Review_Tt.docx

EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. operating as EBA, A Tetra Tech CompanyCalcite Business Centre, Unit 6, 151 Industrial Road

Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2V3 CANADAp. 867.668.3068 f. 867.668.4349

March 2, 2012 ISSUED FOR USEEBA FILE: W14101178.011

Alexco Keno Hill Mining Corp.#4 – 151 Industrial RoadWhitehorse, YT Y1A 2V3 Via Email: [email protected]

Attention: Brad Thrall

Subject: EBA Opinion on Properties of Lucky Queen and Onek TailsFor Use in Existing Dry Stack Tailings Disposal Facility, near Bellekeno Mill, YT

The physical and chemical properties of the tailings that will be produced from the two new ore zones are expected to

be very similar to the geological and geotechnical properties of the Bellekeno ore zone tailings. Experience gained

from thorough geological review of deposits throughout the Keno Hill Silver District indicates there are minor

variations in ore mineralogy and deposit configuration, but all deposits discovered to date fall within a relatively

narrow and well understood geological range, all hosted within the same geological terrain, age range and subjected

to similar structural controls and ore genesis environments.

Within that range, the geotechnical properties of the tailings produced from milling these variations are expected to

be very similar. As part of ongoing DSTF operations, maintenance and surveillance protocol and procedures, these

assumptions will be confirmed through testing through the ongoing implementation of the Tailings Characterization

Plan. Results of analytical testing presented in the YESAB Project Proposal indicate the similar geological nature of

the three ore zones. All ore from each of the three deposits will be processed in the same mill, with the same mill

process flow sheet, therefore producing a nearly identical particle size distribution.

If there are any minor variations in the nature of Lucky Queen and Onek tails from the Bellekeno tails, they are not

expected to affect the geotechnical performance of the DSTF.

We trust this report meets your present requirements. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the

undersigned.

Sincerely,

EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.

J. Richard Trimble, P.Eng., FEC

Principal Consultant, Arctic Engineering

Ph: 867-668-2071 x222 Email: [email protected]

Page 4: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

 

 

 

Attachment B Geochemical Characterization of Onek and Lucky Queen Tailings, Access Consulting 2012 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 5: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    1 

   

Memorandum 

To:  BradThrall,AlexcoResourceCorp.

From:  KaiWoloshyn

Date:  September5,2012

Re:  GeochemicalCharacterizationofOnekandLuckyQueenTailings

TAILINGS GENERATION 

OrefromtheOnekandLuckyQueendepositswillbeprocessedattheexistingKenoDistrictMillSite,currentlyprocessingBellekenoore.CompositetailingsgeneratedfromBellekeno,LuckyQueenandOnekoreprocessingwillbedepositedinthepreviouslyassessedandlicencedDryStackTailingsFacility(DSTF)andcementpastebackfilledascompositeintotheBellekeno,OnekorLuckyQueenundergroundworkings.

TheBellekenotailingsstreamshavenotbeensegregated,aswascontemplatedduringtheBellekenolicencingprocess,becausehighpyritetailingshavenotbeengeneratedaswasanticipatedduringtheBellekenomineassessmentandlicencingprocess.ThetailingsmanagementapproachhasbeenfullydiscussedwiththeFirstNationofNachoNyakDunandYukonGovernmentregulatorssincemillcommissioningcommenced.Themillprocess produces two tailings streams based on the zinc extraction circuit (i.e., the zinc rougher and zinccleaner flotation circuits produce tailings of slightly different compositions). Table 1 summarizes themetallurgicaltestworkcompletedontheOnekandLuckyQueenOresamples.

TableTable2presentsthepyriteandothermineralogicalcontentsofthetailingsstreamsproducedfromtheOnekandLuckyQueenoresand themill tailings fromJuly toSeptember2011.TheLuckyQueenandOnektailingshaveverylowsulphideconcentrations(lessthan0.2%);theBellekenotailingsalsohaverelativelylowsulphidecontent(~2.6%).

Metallurgical Testing of Onek and Lucky Queen Ore 

Process Research Associates Ltd. was commissioned by Alexco to undertake a precious and base metalrecovery study on samples originating from the Onek and Lucky Queen deposits during surface drillingprogramscompletedin2010. Thepurposeofthistestingwastodeterminetherecoveryofsilver(Ag),lead(Pb)andzinc(Zn)intheflotationcircuitsintheexistingmill,andtoevaluatetheenvironmentalparametersoftheresidualtailings.RepresentativesamplesfromdrillcorewereusedtoproduceacompositesampleofOnekandLuckyQueenformetallurgicaltesting.

Page 6: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    2 

   

TheresultsofthemetallurgicaltestworkindicatethatOnekandLuckyQueenoresamplesrespondwelltothecurrentmetallurgicalflowsheetoperatingatthemill.Thereisadirectrelationshipbetweenmetalrecovery,head grade and adequate basemetals galena and sphalerite (PbS and ZnS) in the feed tomaximize silverrecovery.Thereforebalancingthemill feedgradethroughtheconcurrentminingofLuckyQueen,OnekandBellekenowill assist andbe important in optimizingmetallurgicalperformance from theLuckyQueen andOnekdeposits. ThemetallurgicalresultsshowninTables1arenotfromlockedcycletestsbutdemonstratethe importance of adequate basemetal concentrations in the feed grade,most notably sufficient galena tooptimizeoverallleadandsilverrecovery.Additionaloptimizationtestworkwillberequiredforfinalreagentadditionoptimizationthroughlockedcycletestwork.

ThefoursamplesinTables1,2,3and4representcompositesofindividualsamplestakenfromallportionsofthemineralizedzoneofeachdeposit.Thewholerockanalyticalanalysisincludingiron(Fe)ofeachofthefourcompositesampleswaspresentedinTable3Table.TheinitialmetallurgicaltestingfortheLuckyQueenandOnek projectswas based on typical laboratory scale ore sample composites and yielded small volumes oftailings.Thescaleofthemetallurgicaltestingdidnotallowforcollectionofsupernatantsamples.Inadditiontherewasinsufficientvolumeoftailingsgeneratedbythetestingtoallowfortheestablishmentofhumiditycells. AdditionalmetallurgicaltestingandassociatedABAtestingofLuckyQueenandOneksampleswillbeongoing.

ThelevelanddetailofmetallurgicaltestworkcompletedforOnekandLuckyQueenissufficienttodeterminethatthecurrentmilloperationswilladequatelyprocessorefromthesedepositsaswellasdeterminethatthefinal mill tailings product is geochemically similar to Bellekeno so that it can be stored in the currentlypermittedDSTF.Additionalmetallurgicaltestingandreagentoptimizationisasecondaryrequirementformilloperations performance solely for operational requirements and not for determining the environmentalperformance and assessment of the tailings. Locked cycle tests were completed on Bellekeno samples todeterminethedesignoftheprocessflowsheetwhileopencycletestsonLuckyQueenandOnekcanbeusedtodeterminethecompatibilityof theseoreswiththecurrentmill flowsheet.Additionalmetallurgical testworkwill be completed as part of normal mill operations and planning but is not necessary for assessment ofenvironmentalperformancedetermination.

Onek and Lucky Queen Tailings Characterization 

Followingmetallurgical testing ofOnek andLuckyQueen samples, themodifiedABAprotocolwas used tocalculateNPvalues.AlexcohassinceinstitutedasideriteABAcorrectionpackageforalltailingsandnearveinsamplingwheresignificantsideriteislikely.SubsequentABAtestinginmineralizedandnearveinmaterialforLuckyQueenandOnekwillalsousethesideritecorrectionmethod.

TheresultsshowninTable2areforthebulktailingsproducedfromthemetallurgicalflowsheettested.Astheresults indicate, the tailings fromOnekandLuckyQueenarewellaboveastandardneutralizationpotential(NP)ratio(3:1)andpotentialacidgenerationisnotexpected.OneoftheprimaryreasonsforthehighNPratioisthesignificantlylessacidpotentialduetolowertotalsulphurandbasemetals(i.e.PbS)inOnekandLuckyQueenascomparedtoBellekeno.

Carbonate species present in Onek and Lucky Queen tailings in approximate order of abundance includesiderite,calcite,ankeriteandpossiblydolomite/ferroandolomite.

Page 7: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    3 

   

Table 1 Metallurgical Testwork Summary of Onek and Lucky Queen Ore 

Test 

ID 

Sample 

ID Products  Mass (%) 

Grade Recovery 

Ag (g/t)  Pb (%)  Zn (%)  Ag (%)  Pb (%)  Zn (%) 

F7  Onek  

Head Grade    92.3  0.21  25.17       

Pb Cl 

concentrate 0.6  6899.4  32.23  11.35  48.4  74.0  0.3 

Zn Cl 

concentrate 37.3  45.9  0.04  53.29  21.7  6.2  85.3 

Final Tailings  44.4  2.2  0.01  0.23  1.2  0.4  0.4 

F8  Onek  

Head Grade    333.8  3.59  12.03       

Pb Cl 

concentrate 2.8  5196.5  70.97  3.10  46.5  56.7  0.7 

Zn Cl 

concentrate 16.2  127.0  0.24  48.44  6.7  1.1  68.1 

Final Tailings  65.0  11.0  0.08  1.76  2.3  1.5  9.9 

F9 Lucky 

Queen 

Head Grade    2251.8  4.49  3.15       

Pb Cl 

concentrate 6.6  33084.2  65.86  2.97  93.3  95.1  5.7 

Zn Cl 

concentrate 4.3  214.7  0.16  58.79  0.4  0.2  73.6 

Final Tailings  80.3  8.3  0.06  0.10  0.3  1.1  2.4 

F10 Lucky 

Queen 

Head Grade    4527.7  10.40  4.58       

Pb Cl 

concentrate 12.1  34837.3  70.47  1.88  84.6  87.3  4.8 

Zn Cl 

concentrate 5.9  301.2  0.74  58.94  0.4  0.4  72.5 

Final Tailings  67.7  20.9  0.09  0.06  0.3  0.6  0.9 

 

Table 2 Onek and Lucky Queen Tailings ABA Summary 

Item  SampleID 

S(T)  S(SO4)  Paste  Acid  Neutralization Potential (NP) 

%  %  pH  Potential  Actual  Ratio  Net 

1  F7 Final tailing/Onek  0.17  0.03  7.8  4.4  36.8  8.4  32.4 

2  F8 Final tailing/Onek  0.15  0.05  7.8  3.1  26.0  8.3  22.9 

3  F9 Final tailing/Lucky Queen  0.18  0.04  8.2  4.4  20.4  4.7  16.0 

4  F10 Final tailing/Lucky Queen  0.19  0.04  7.5  4.7  17.8  3.8  13.1 

DUP  F7 Final tailing/Onek  0.17  0.03  7.8  4.4  37.1  8.5  32.8 

Bellekeno Tailings, January to May 2011 Monthly Average  2.61  0.06  8.1  81.62  276.2  3.4  194.6 

Page 8: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    4 

   

ThefinaltailingsdepositedintheDSTForundergroundascompositepastebackfillateitherBellekeno,LuckyQueen or Onek will be a combination of Onek, Lucky Queen and Bellekeno ores. Given the currentperformance of the Bellekeno tailings and the ABA testwork completed for Onek and Lucky Queen, bulktailingsstoredon theDSTFarenota concern fromanacidgeneratingpotentialperspective.TheOnekandLucky Queen tailings are shown to be geochemically similar or better to Bellekeno in Tables 2 to 4, andthereforethestorageoftheOnekandLuckyQueentailingsintheDSTFisappropriate.

MetalsanalysisofthetailingsfromtheLuckyQueenandOnekmetallurgicalprogramwascompletedandtheresults are shown in Table 3Table . Shake Flask Extraction (SFE) test results for the Lucky Queen tailingsamples F9 and F10 are presented in Table 4. The metal leaching concentrations from the Lucky QueentailingsSFEtestaresimilarorlessthanthoseobservedintheBellekenotailingsporewatersamplesandtheBellekenohumiditycell.

HumiditycellshavenotbeenestablishedforanyofthegeologicalmaterialsattheLuckyQueenorOneksites.TheOnekandLuckyQueentailingsarelowsulphide(<0.2%)(seeTable2);therefore,theyarenotanticipatedtobeacid‐generating.ThefollowingfactorsarerelevanttocharacterizingthepotentialeffectsofdepositionofLuckyQueenandOnektailings:

tailingsplacedasbackfillintotheundergroundworkingswillbecementedbackfillwhichincludesacementbinderthatwilleffectivelyreducetheleachabilityandpermeabilityofthebackfilledtailings;

duringtheoperationsphaseofthemine,theDSTFseepageiscollectedandroutedtotheMillPondforuseintheprocessingcircuit;

anydischargesfromtheMillPondalreadyrequiretreatmenttoachieveEQSunderQZ09‐092;

atclosuretheDSTFwillhaveasoilcoverinstalledtoreduceinfiltrationinadditiontoabioreactortoprovideongoinglong‐termwatertreatmentduringthepost‐closureperiod;and

humiditycellswerenotprovidedordeemednecessaryforassessmentorlicensingoftheBellekenomine but instead have been commissioned during operations. The information provided for theLuckyQueenandOnekassessmentisconsideredconsistentwiththatapproach.

AdditionalmetallurgicaltestingontheLuckyQueenandOnekoresiscurrentlybeingadvancedbyAlexcoandthetailingsgeneratedbythistestingwillbeutilizedforadditionalgeochemicaltestingprograms.

Elevated concentrations of sphalerite (ZnS) in the tailings will result in leachate containing higherconcentrationsofzinc.SampleF8fromOnekinTables1and2hadalowzincrecovery;consequently,thereconsiderable amount of zinc in the metallurgical analysis of the tailings shown in Table 3. Throughmetallurgicaloptimization,zincrecoverywill increase;consequently,zincconcentrations in the tailingsandleachatewilldecrease.Duringoperations, leachate fromtheDSTFwillbecollectedandrecycled in themillprocessing,ordiverted to themillwater treatmentplant.At closure, theDSTFwillbecovered tominimizewasterinfiltrationandleachatewillbetreatedwithapassivebioreactorsystem.

Page 9: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    5 

   

Bellekeno Tailings Characterization 

CharacterizationoftheactualtailingsgeneratedfromBellekenooreshasbeenongoingandtheresultsofthehumiditycelltestscurrentlyinoperationonrepresentativetailingsfromtheBellekenodepositforthefirst47weeks of humidity cell operation are shown presented in Table 5 and Figures 1 to 3. The ABA andmetallurgicalmonthlyaveragesfromJanuarytoMay2011fortheBellekenotailingsareshowninTable2and3, respectively.Thehumidity cells forBellekenohavebeen inoperationover47weeks and results todateshowadecreasingtrendinmetalconcentrationsforarsenic,copper,leadandnickelinthecellleachateovertime.The exception to theobserved trends is zinc and cadmium. Zinchas shownan increasing trend toaconcentration of approximately 3mg/L while cadmium has a current concentration of approximately0.008mg/L. The 47 week humidity cell data is presented in Table 5Table . Alexco intends to continue tooperatethiscellthrough2012andinto2013.AtclosuretheDSTFwillbecovered.Table7presentstheXRDmineralogical analysis of the compositeBellekeno tailings samples collected in July,August and September2011.

 

Page 10: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    6 

   

Table 3 Onek and Lucky Queen Tailings Metallurgical Analysis 

Elements  Units 

Sample ID  Bellekeno Tailings 

F7 Cut Tailings/ Onek 

F8 Cut Tailings/ Onek 

F9 Cut Tailings/ 

Lucky Queen 

F10 Cut Tailings/Lucky 

Queen 

January to May 2011 Monthly 

Average 

C‐Inorg  %  0.34  0.06  0.21  0.23  3.91 

S(SO4)  %  0.03  0.05  0.04  0.04  0.06 

Ag  ppm  3.2  9.6  9.6  23.2  53.08 

Al  %  0.36  0.36  0.99  0.49  1.12 

As  ppm  344  406  13  22  3526 

Ba  ppm  18  30  169  80  180 

Bi  ppm  <2  <2  <2  <2  3 

Ca  %  0.65  0.28  0.48  0.27  1.55 

Cd  ppm  14.4  131.1  4.9  3.0  255 

Co  ppm  <1  2  3  <1  14.6 

Cr  ppm  168  180  454  77  19 

Cu  ppm  384  370  281  226  270 

Fe  %  18.38  18.82  5.8  6.99  13.73 

K  %  0.07  0.09  0.37  0.18  0.33 

La  ppm  15  <10  <10  <10  8.66 

Mg  %  0.55  0.39  0.36  0.32  0.40 

Mn  ppm  52200  51678  21651  27757  42420 

Mo  ppm  <1  <1  2  <1  0.81 

Na  %  0.02  0.02  0.03  0.02  0.074 

Ni  ppm  52  36  69  33  20 

P  ppm  115  165  141  122  178 

Pb  ppm  81  744  423  686  3498 

Sb  ppm  <5  <5  9.0  <5  60 

Sc  ppm  3  2  2  1  4 

Sr  ppm  10  12  20  10  42 

Ti  %  <0.01  <0.01  0.02  <0.01  0.04 

Tl  ppm  15  20  <10  11  0.424 

V  ppm  5  6  17  8  22 

W  ppm  <10  177  <10  <10  1.46 

Zn  ppm  1937  15630  697  416  1749 

 

Page 11: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    7 

   

Table 4 Shake Flask Extraction Results for Lucky Queen Tailings Samples 

                                       

Mine/Dump Location 

Units 

Lucky Queen Tailings 

  Lucky Queen Bulk 

Tails F9 Lucky Queen Bulk 

Tails F10 

Leachable Anions & Nutrients          

Alkalinity, Total (as CaCO3)  mg/L  28.2  25.1 

Bromide (Br)  mg/L  <0.050  <0.050 

Chloride (Cl)  mg/L  1.51  0.89 

Conductivity  us/cm  434  352 

Fluoride (F)  mg/L  0.078  0.035 

Nitrate (as N)  mg/L  0.0259  0.0254 

Nitrite (as N)  mg/L  0.0072  0.0053 

pH  pH  8.1  8.0 

Sulfate (SO4)  mg/L  183  140 

Hardness  (as CaCO3)  mg/L  204  158 

Leachable Metals          

Aluminum (Al)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.0050  <0.0050 

Antimony (Sb)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.016  0.0116 

Arsenic (As)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.0010  <0.0010 

Barium (Ba)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.037  0.0459 

Beryllium (Be)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.00050  <0.00050 

Bismuth (Bi)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.00050  <0.00050 

Boron (B)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.025  0.014 

Cadmium (Cd)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.00164  0.00509 

Calcium (Ca)‐Leachable  mg/L  74.9  59.6 

Chromium (Cr)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.00050  <0.00050 

Cobalt (Co)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.0002  0.00702 

Copper (Cu)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.0303  0.0503 

Iron (Fe)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.030  <0.030 

Lead (Pb)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.0181  0.112 

Lithium (Li)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.0050  <0.0050 

Magnesium (Mg)‐Leachable  mg/L  3.96  2.27 

Manganese (Mn)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.765  1.14 

Mercury (Hg)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.000050  <0.000050 

Molybdenum (Mo)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.00318  0.00078 

Nickel (Ni)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.00067  0.00253 

Phosphorus (P)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.30  <0.30 

Potassium (K)‐Leachable  mg/L  3.93  1.87 

Selenium (Se)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.00871  0.00463 

Silicon (Si)‐Leachable  mg/L  1.91  1.11 

Silver (Ag)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.000144  0.000627 

Sodium (Na)‐Leachable  mg/L  6.19  4.57 

Strontium (Sr)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.193  0.141 

Thallium (Tl)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.00011  <0.00010 

Tin (Sn)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.00050  <0.00050 

Titanium (Ti)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.010  <0.010 

Uranium (U)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.000011  <0.000010 

Vanadium (V)‐Leachable  mg/L  <0.0010  <0.0010 

Zinc (Zn)‐Leachable  mg/L  0.0189  0.0955 

Page 12: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    8 

   

Table 5 Bellekeno Humidity Cell Results up to Week 47 

Sample ID MILL TAILS 

COMPOSITE‐JAN‐JUN2011‐0 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐1 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐2 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐3 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐4 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐5 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐6 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐7 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐8 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐9 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐10 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐11 

Date Sampled  17‐AUG‐11  24‐AUG‐11  31‐AUG‐11  07‐SEP‐11 14‐SEP‐11 21‐SEP‐11 28‐SEP‐11 05‐OCT‐11 12‐OCT‐11  19‐OCT‐11  26‐OCT‐11 02‐NOV‐11

ALS Sample ID  L1045358‐1  L1049390‐1  L1051834‐1  L1054437‐1 L1057740‐1 L1060984‐1 L1064228‐1 L1067341‐1 L1070094‐1  L1073037‐1  L1076479‐1 L1079310‐1

Matrix  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water Water Water Water Water  Water  Water Water

Sample Preparation 

Total Volume In  750  500  500  500  500 500 500 500 500  500  500 500

Total Volume Out  550  460  460  450  450 475 435 485 475  450  500 460

Physical Tests 

Conductivity  1950  1050  1050  822  648 553 523 415 463  435  438 428

pH  7.89  7.7  7.86  7.81  7.91 7.81 7.91 7.86 7.84  7.79  7.91 7.83

Anions and Nutrients 

Acidity (as CaCO3)  5  4.8  5.8  10.9  5 3.4 5.6 7.1 7.2  6.3  10.4 5.1

Alkalinity, Total (as CaCO3)  43  45  68.3  64.5  49.6 62.7 68.4 78.3 73.7  73.9  72.1 75.6

Bromide (Br)  <0.050  <0.50  <0.5  <0.50  <0.050 <0.050 <0.050 <0.050 <0.050  <0.050  <0.050 <0.050

Chloride (Cl)  15.6  7.4  <5.0  <5.0  <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50  <0.50  <0.50 <0.50

Fluoride (F)  0.354  0.37  0.34  0.34  0.288 0.27 0.254 0.208 0.183  0.164  0.161 0.179

Nitrate (as N)  10.1  3.36  <0.050  <0.050 0.0148 0.0065 0.0096 0.0052 <0.0050  <0.0050  0.007 0.0066

Nitrite (as N)  0.0845  0.089  0.011  <0.010 0.0064 <0.0010 0.0036 0.0046 <0.0010  0.0016  0.0012 0.0043

Sulfate (SO4)  1150  513  595  455  320 248 230 158 189  172  181 184

Dissolved Metals 

Aluminum (Al)‐Dissolved  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010  <0.0050 <0.0050 <0.0050 <0.0050 <0.0050 0.0219  <0.0050  <0.0050 <0.0050

Antimony (Sb)‐Dissolved  0.023  0.0241  0.0222  0.0178 0.0159 0.0166 0.0159 0.016 0.0164  0.0154  0.0155 0.0152

Arsenic (As)‐Dissolved  0.00081  0.00195  0.00248  0.0015  0.00139 0.00104 0.00079 0.00091 0.0008  0.0008  0.00083 0.00078

Barium (Ba)‐Dissolved  0.0985  0.056  0.0372  0.0359 0.0387 0.0347 0.0371 0.0381 0.0395  0.0368  0.0389 0.0371

Beryllium (Be)‐Dissolved  <0.00020  <0.00020  <0.00020  <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 <0.00010

Bismuth (Bi)‐Dissolved  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 <0.00050

Boron (B)‐Dissolved  0.166  0.157  0.185  0.117  0.075 0.076 0.054 0.037 0.134  0.029  0.025 0.024

Cadmium (Cd)‐Dissolved  0.0264  0.0216  0.0339  0.0292 0.0228 0.0263 0.0249 0.0205 0.0294  0.0292  0.0333 0.0328

Calcium (Ca)‐Dissolved  439  217  240  192  150 119 121 90.3 101  94.3  100 94.2

Chromium (Cr)‐Dissolved  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 <0.00050

Cobalt (Co)‐Dissolved  0.00155  0.00089  0.00289  0.00318 0.00179 0.00198 0.002 0.0015 0.00223  0.002  0.00223 0.00219

Copper (Cu)‐Dissolved  0.0049  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 <0.00050

Iron (Fe)‐Dissolved  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030 <0.030 <0.030 <0.030 <0.030 <0.030  <0.030  <0.030 <0.030

Lead (Pb)‐Dissolved  0.192  0.161  0.137  0.104  0.111 0.128 0.123 0.0971 0.0956  0.107  0.104 0.0985

Lithium (Li)‐Dissolved  0.0608  0.0495  0.0488  0.0269 0.0196 0.0162 0.0113 0.00832 0.0074  0.00656  0.00592 0.00589

Magnesium (Mg)‐Dissolved  17.3  10.6  10.3  6.94  4.64 3.7 2.89 1.89 2.05  1.71  1.67 1.46

Manganese (Mn)‐Dissolved  3.69  1.81  4.07  3.71  2.11 2.13 2.08 1.53 1.81  1.59  1.72 1.6

Mercury (Hg)‐Dissolved  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 <0.000010

Molybdenum (Mo)‐Dissolved  0.00463  0.00467  0.00422  0.00327 0.00376 0.00393 0.00387 0.00361 0.00333  0.00314  0.00299 0.00319

Nickel (Ni)‐Dissolved  0.0037  0.0015  0.0042  0.00415 0.00193 0.00223 0.00209 0.00154 0.00264  0.00217  0.00238 0.00209

Phosphorus (P)‐Dissolved  0.61  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30 <0.30 <0.30 <0.30 <0.30  <0.30  <0.30 <0.30

Potassium (K)‐Dissolved  27.1  13  8.75  4.78  3.74 2.88 2.23 1.57 1.58  1.3  1.29 1.17

Selenium (Se)‐Dissolved  0.00176  0.00109  0.00076  0.00075 0.00054 0.00044 0.00042 0.00028 0.00031  0.00029  0.00028 0.00026

Silicon (Si)‐Dissolved  2.48  2.82  4.61  3.76  4.07 4.28 4.42 4.11 3.97  3.98  4.07 4.17

Silver (Ag)‐Dissolved  0.00801  0.000588  <0.000020  <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 <0.000010

Sodium (Na)‐Dissolved  67.5  23.3  10.4  3.64  2.14 1.35 0.853 0.562 0.746  0.46  0.477 0.426

Strontium (Sr)‐Dissolved  1.33  0.623  0.565  0.382  0.276 0.249 0.245 0.179 0.185  0.166  0.168 0.187

Sulfur (S)‐Dissolved  459  249  198  147  111 86.1 78.8 53.1 63.5  58.5  60.9 57.7

Thallium (Tl)‐Dissolved  0.000564  0.000455  0.000381  0.000248 0.000147 0.000189 0.000218 0.000232 0.000105  0.000097  0.000099 0.000263

Tin (Sn)‐Dissolved  <0.00020  <0.00020  <0.00020  <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 <0.00010

Titanium (Ti)‐Dissolved  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010 0.016 0.014 <0.010 <0.010 <0.010  <0.010  <0.010 <0.010

Uranium (U)‐Dissolved  0.000725  0.000413  0.000698  0.000526 0.000315 0.000276 0.000261 0.000179 0.000243  0.000193  0.000212 0.000188

Vanadium (V)‐Dissolved  <0.0020  <0.0020  <0.0020  <0.0010 <0.0010 <0.0010 <0.0010 <0.0010 <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010 <0.0010

Zinc (Zn)‐Dissolved  0.478  0.587  1.97  2.16  1.16  1.77  1.82  1.56  2.34  2.23  2.71  2.87 

Page 13: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    9 

   

Sample ID MILL TAILS 

COMPOSITE‐JAN‐JUN2011‐12 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐13 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐14 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐15 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐16 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐17 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐18 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐19 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐20 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐21 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐22 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐23 

Date Sampled  09‐NOV‐11  16‐NOV‐11  23‐NOV‐11  30‐NOV‐11  07‐DEC‐11  14‐DEC‐11  21‐DEC‐11  28‐DEC‐11  04‐JAN‐12  11‐JAN‐12  18‐JAN‐12  25‐JAN‐12 

ALS Sample ID  L1082246‐1  L1084760‐1  L1087901‐1  L1090459‐1  L1092271‐1  L1095037‐1  L1097547‐1  L1099484‐1  L1100871‐1  L1102681‐1  L1104828‐1  L1106888‐1 

Matrix  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water  Water 

Sample Preparation 

Total Volume In  500  500  500  500  500  500  500  500  500  500  500  500 

Total Volume Out  460  480  450  475  470  450  460  410  445  425  420  490 

Physical Tests 

Conductivity  359  408  362  374  362  341  397  512  525  505  472  435 

pH  7.85  7.91  7.87  7.95  7.90  7.8  7.9  7.95  7.88  7.84  7.8  7.9 

Anions and Nutrients 

Acidity (as CaCO3)  6.2  7.5  5.8  7.7  4.8  5.7  7.8  6.2  7.1  6.2  6.2  8.8 

Alkalinity, Total (as CaCO3)  71.3  71.7  72.3  72.4  72.7  71.2  64.9  58.2  48.7  62.8  66.3  66.1 

Bromide (Br)  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050 

Chloride (Cl)  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50 

Fluoride (F)  0.138  0.125  0.124  0.113  0.111  0.174  0.097  0.106  0.111  0.108  0.098  0.101 

Nitrate (as N)  0.0064  0.0062  0.0141  0.0061  <0.0050  0.0101  0.0137  <0.0050  0.0061  0.01  0.0096  0.0076 

Nitrite (as N)  0.0046  0.0052  0.0056  0.0046  0.004  0.0069  0.0054  0.0049  0.0026  0.0056  0.0045  0.0025 

Sulfate (SO4)  128  159  129  138  130  119  129  194  206  193  175  148 

Dissolved Metals 

Aluminum (Al)‐Dissolved  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050 

Antimony (Sb)‐Dissolved  0.0141  0.0146  0.0145  0.0142  0.013  0.0129  0.013  0.0124  0.0107  0.0099  0.00986  0.0103 

Arsenic (As)‐Dissolved  0.00075  0.00087  0.00076  0.00084  0.00083  0.00082  0.00089  0.00092  0.00076  0.00084  0.00098  0.00145 

Barium (Ba)‐Dissolved  0.0397  0.0441  0.0397  0.0417  0.0415  0.04  0.04  0.0465  0.045  0.0431  0.04  0.05 

Beryllium (Be)‐Dissolved  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 

Bismuth (Bi)‐Dissolved  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 

Boron (B)‐Dissolved  0.019  0.018  0.015  0.017  0.015  0.01  0.01  0.013  0.011  0.01  0.01  <0.010 

Cadmium (Cd)‐Dissolved  0.0272  0.0329  0.0318  0.0342  0.0351  0.03  0.04  0.0391  0.0465  0.0485  0.05  0.05 

Calcium (Ca)‐Dissolved  79.2  94.6  79.7  80.6  80.6  79.50  76.70  102  103  104  97.40  85.30 

Chromium (Cr)‐Dissolved  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 

Cobalt (Co)‐Dissolved  0.00164  0.00213  0.00183  0.00194  0.00188  0.00  0.00  0.00184  0.00188  0.00201  0.00  0.00 

Copper (Cu)‐Dissolved  <0.00050  0.0005  0.00062  0.00074  0.00078  0.00  0.00  <0.00050  <0.00050  0.00059  0.00  0.00 

Iron (Fe)‐Dissolved  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030 

Lead (Pb)‐Dissolved  0.0893  0.0894  0.0927  0.0918  0.0886  0.09  0.08  0.0794  0.0943  0.0898  0.10  0.09 

Lithium (Li)‐Dissolved  0.00417  0.00426  0.00365  0.00339  0.00291  0.00  0.00  0.00297  0.00282  0.00284  0.00  0.00 

Magnesium (Mg)‐Dissolved  1.09  1.28  1.04  1.09  1  0.90  0.97  1.28  1.39  1.45  1.28  1.28 

Manganese (Mn)‐Dissolved  1.18  1.5  1.22  1.47  1.27  1.15  1.15  1.13  1.2  1.23  1.30  1.36 

Mercury (Hg)‐Dissolved  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 

Molybdenum (Mo)‐Dissolved  0.00295  0.00277  0.00268  0.00265  0.00259  0.00  0.00  0.00268  0.00266  0.00231  0.00  0.00 

Nickel (Ni)‐Dissolved  0.00158  0.002  0.00161  0.00175  0.00163  0.00  0.00  0.00157  0.00125  0.00143  0.00  0.00 

Phosphorus (P)‐Dissolved  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30 

Potassium (K)‐Dissolved  0.846  0.923  0.807  0.794  0.727  0.64  0.65  0.715  0.702  0.618  0.58  0.63 

Selenium (Se)‐Dissolved  0.0002  0.00022  0.00017  0.0002  0.00019  0.00  0.00  0.00022  0.0002  0.00017  0.00  0.00 

Silicon (Si)‐Dissolved  3.67  3.71  3.73  3.51  3.62  3.36  3.21  3.01  2.95  2.98  2.94  3.25 

Silver (Ag)‐Dissolved  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 

Sodium (Na)‐Dissolved  0.35  0.352  0.295  0.305  0.289  0.26  0.29  0.338  0.322  0.315  0.28  0.31 

Strontium (Sr)‐Dissolved  0.129  0.148  0.147  0.144  0.134  0.12  0.11  0.147  0.174  0.146  0.14  0.12 

Sulfur (S)‐Dissolved  43.4  54.1  44.3  46.7  43.5  40.50  44.40  65.8  70.6  65.8  59.30  50.50 

Thallium (Tl)‐Dissolved  0.000076  0.000079  0.000243  0.000267  0.000222  0.00  0.00  0.000078  0.000238  0.000091  0.00  0.00 

Tin (Sn)‐Dissolved  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 

Titanium (Ti)‐Dissolved  <0.010  0.01  0.011  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010  0.011  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010 

Uranium (U)‐Dissolved  0.000127  0.000184  0.000124  0.000147  0.000129  0.00  0.00  0.0002  0.000178  0.000153  0.00  0.00 

Vanadium (V)‐Dissolved  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010 

Zinc (Zn)‐Dissolved  2.14  2.69  2.55  2.71  2.76  2.64  2.72  2.18  2.69  2.98  2.91  3.47 

Page 14: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    10 

   

Sample ID MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐

JAN‐JUN2011‐24 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐29 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐30 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐31 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐32 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐33 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐34 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐35 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐36 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐37 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐38 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐39 

Date Sampled  01‐FEB‐12  07‐MAR‐12  14‐MAR‐12  21‐MAR‐12 28‐MAR‐12 04‐APR‐12 11‐APR‐12 18‐APR‐12 25‐APR‐12  02‐MAY‐12  09‐MAY‐12 16‐MAY‐12

ALS Sample ID  L1109203‐1  L1121471‐1  L1123018‐1  L1125306‐1 L1127559‐1 L1130834‐1 L1133140‐1 L1135454‐1 L1138358‐1  L1141290‐1  L1143994‐1 L1147310‐1

Matrix  Water  Water  Water  Water Water Water Water Water Water  Water  Water Water

Sample Preparation 

Total Volume In  500  500  500  500 500 500 500 500 500  500  500 500

Total Volume Out  425  460  475  500 470 425 480 455 475  475  500 455

Physical Tests 

Conductivity  409  382  344  351 369 383 322 341 332  309  294 330

pH  7.97  7.91  7.85  7.9 7.9 7.93 7.79 7.92 7.9  7.9  7.85 7.88

Anions and Nutrients 

Acidity (as CaCO3)  4.1  5.4  7.4  8.3 9 11.5 6.9 10.3 15  12.8  8 6.2

Alkalinity, Total (as CaCO3)  58.2  65.5  64.8  59.8 54.9 57.1 49 61.2 58.8  49.2  55.3 49.3

Bromide (Br)  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050 

Chloride (Cl)  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50  <0.50  <0.50 <0.50

Fluoride (F)  0.092  0.08  0.08  0.073 0.071 0.071 0.059 0.068 0.067  0.059  0.05 0.058

Nitrate (as N)  0.0104  0.0063  0.0074  0.0085  0.0095  0.0056  0.0057  <0.0050  0.0069  <0.0050  0.0194  0.0061 

Nitrite (as N)  0.0052  0.0015  0.0019  0.0014 0.0017 0.0019 0.0018 0.001 0.0014  0.0012  <0.0010 <0.0010

Sulfate (SO4)  141  124  109  112 122 131 102 112 106  94.3  88.7 108

Dissolved Metals 

Aluminum (Al)‐Dissolved  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050 <0.0050 <0.0050  <0.0050

Antimony (Sb)‐Dissolved  0.00943  0.00812  0.00817 0.00804 0.00749  0.00858

Arsenic (As)‐Dissolved  0.0011  0.00155  0.00129  0.00168  0.00145  0.00154 

Barium (Ba)‐Dissolved  0.0407  0.0393  0.04 0.0388 0.04  0.0408

Beryllium (Be)‐Dissolved  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 <0.00010 <0.00010  <0.00010

Bismuth (Bi)‐Dissolved  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 

Boron (B)‐Dissolved  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010 <0.010 <0.010  <0.010

Cadmium (Cd)‐Dissolved  0.0433  0.0491  0.05 0.0498 0.0538 0.0604 0.05  0.06  0.0525 0.0505

Calcium (Ca)‐Dissolved  83.5  62.1  67.00  58.2  67.90  55.3 

Chromium (Cr)‐Dissolved  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 <0.00050 <0.00050  <0.00050

Cobalt (Co)‐Dissolved  0.00195  0.00256  0.00 0.00277 0.00  0.00307

Copper (Cu)‐Dissolved  0.00082  0.00192  0.00  0.00225  0.00  0.00261 

Iron (Fe)‐Dissolved  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030 <0.030 <0.030  <0.030

Lead (Pb)‐Dissolved  0.0809  0.0779  0.08 0.0834 0.09  0.0926

Lithium (Li)‐Dissolved  0.00238  0.00172  0.00  0.00099  0.00  0.00148 

Magnesium (Mg)‐Dissolved  1.07  0.862  0.99 0.939 1.12  1.02

Manganese (Mn)‐Dissolved  1.04  1.09  0.96 1.03 0.98  1.01

Mercury (Hg)‐Dissolved  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 

Molybdenum (Mo)‐Dissolved  0.00223  0.00178  0.00 0.00158 0.00  0.00162

Nickel (Ni)‐Dissolved  0.00145  0.00188  0.00 0.00204 0.00  0.00234

Phosphorus (P)‐Dissolved  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30 

Potassium (K)‐Dissolved  0.497  0.385  0.37 0.331 0.35  0.317

Selenium (Se)‐Dissolved  0.00017  0.00014  0.00 0.00012 0.00  0.00013

Silicon (Si)‐Dissolved  2.87  2.72  2.43  2.41  2.58  2.45 

Silver (Ag)‐Dissolved  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 <0.000010 <0.000010  <0.000010

Sodium (Na)‐Dissolved  0.241  0.209  0.20 0.184 0.20  0.172

Strontium (Sr)‐Dissolved  0.119  0.104  0.11  0.101  0.10  0.103 

Sulfur (S)‐Dissolved  50.7  36.7  39.40 34.7 36.70  29.6

Thallium (Tl)‐Dissolved  0.000058  0.000038  0.00 0.000039 0.00  0.000041

Tin (Sn)‐Dissolved  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 

Titanium (Ti)‐Dissolved  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010 <0.010 <0.010  <0.010

Uranium (U)‐Dissolved  0.000099  0.000049  0.00 0.000042 0.00  0.000037

Vanadium (V)‐Dissolved  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010 

Zinc (Zn)‐Dissolved  2.76  4.25  3.72  3.14 3.11 3.35 3.48 4.28 3.01  3.87  3.29 2.6

Page 15: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    11 

   

Sample ID MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐

JAN‐JUN2011‐40 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐41 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐42 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐43 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐44 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐45 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐46 

MILL TAILS COMPOSITE‐JAN‐

JUN2011‐47 

Date Sampled  23‐MAY‐12  30‐MAY‐12  06‐JUN‐12  13‐JUN‐12 20‐JUN‐12 27‐JUN‐12 04‐JUL‐12 11‐JUL‐12

ALS Sample ID  L1150106‐1  L1153466‐1  L1156963‐1  L1160871‐1 L1164482‐1 L1167961‐1 L1171477‐1 L1174741‐1

Matrix  Water  Water  Water  Water Water Water Water Water

Sample Preparation 

Total Volume In  500  500  500  500 500 500 500 500

Total Volume Out  485  495  490  475 475 475 470 475

Physical Tests 

Conductivity  299  299  292  281 277 274 271 270

pH  7.80  7.9  7.8  7.91 7.9 7.93 7.9 7.9

Anions and Nutrients 

Acidity (as CaCO3)  8.8  14.9  14.3  8.7 7.7 12.9 5.3 6.8

Alkalinity, Total (as CaCO3)  57.9  55.5  62.8  58.8 48.5 47.4 49.1 56.2

Bromide (Br)  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050  <0.050 <0.050 <0.050 <0.050 <0.050

Chloride (Cl)  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50  <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

Fluoride (F)  0.052  0.05  0.048  0.044 0.041 0.037 0.038 0.04

Nitrate (as N)  0.0054  0.0067  <0.0050  <0.0050 <0.0050 <0.0050 <0.0050 0.015

Nitrite (as N)  <0.0010  <0.0010  0.0019  0.0018 <0.0010 0.0013 0.0019 0.0012

Sulfate (SO4)  92.9  90.9  87.4  81.8 82.7 82.3 79.9 78

Dissolved Metals 

Aluminum (Al)‐Dissolved  <0.0050  <0.0050  <0.0050 <0.0050 FIELD

Antimony (Sb)‐Dissolved  0.0077  0.008  0.00729 0.00719

Arsenic (As)‐Dissolved  0.0016  0.00168  0.00137 0.00141

Barium (Ba)‐Dissolved  0.0446  0.05  0.0468 0.05

Beryllium (Be)‐Dissolved  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 <0.00010

Bismuth (Bi)‐Dissolved  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 <0.00050

Boron (B)‐Dissolved  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010 <0.010

Cadmium (Cd)‐Dissolved  0.0596  0.06  0.06  0.0614 0.0481 0.0493 0.05 0.06

Calcium (Ca)‐Dissolved  53.9  56.60  52.8 51.20

Chromium (Cr)‐Dissolved  <0.00050  <0.00050  <0.00050 <0.00050

Cobalt (Co)‐Dissolved  0.0035  0.00  0.0036 0.00

Copper (Cu)‐Dissolved  0.00241  0.00  0.00261 0.00

Iron (Fe)‐Dissolved  <0.030  <0.030  <0.030 <0.030

Lead (Pb)‐Dissolved  0.0831  0.09  0.0875 0.09

Lithium (Li)‐Dissolved  0.00207  0.00  0.00165 0.00

Magnesium (Mg)‐Dissolved  1.32  1.43  1.46 1.54

Manganese (Mn)‐Dissolved  1.14  1.20  1.06 1.20

Mercury (Hg)‐Dissolved  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 <0.000010

Molybdenum (Mo)‐Dissolved  0.00139  0.00  0.00138 0.00

Nickel (Ni)‐Dissolved  0.00278  0.00  0.00282 0.00

Phosphorus (P)‐Dissolved  <0.30  <0.30  <0.30 <0.30

Potassium (K)‐Dissolved  0.329  0.32  0.311 0.31

Selenium (Se)‐Dissolved  0.00015  0.00  0.00015 0.00

Silicon (Si)‐Dissolved  2.57  2.62  2.48 2.49

Silver (Ag)‐Dissolved  <0.000010  <0.000010  <0.000010 <0.000010

Sodium (Na)‐Dissolved  0.183  0.18  0.159 0.16

Strontium (Sr)‐Dissolved  0.0966  0.09  0.0919 0.09

Sulfur (S)‐Dissolved  31.1  29.30  27.4 27.00

Thallium (Tl)‐Dissolved  0.000039  0.00  0.000037 0.00

Tin (Sn)‐Dissolved  <0.00010  <0.00010  <0.00010 <0.00010

Titanium (Ti)‐Dissolved  <0.010  <0.010  <0.010 <0.010

Uranium (U)‐Dissolved  0.000035  0.00  0.00003 0.00

Vanadium (V)‐Dissolved  <0.0010  <0.0010  <0.0010 <0.0010

Zinc (Zn)‐Dissolved  3.86  3.65  3.61  4.07 2.63 2.89 2.96 3.96

Page 16: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    12 

   

Figure 1 Bellekeno Tailings Humidity Cell Dissolved Zinc and Lead 

 

Figure 2 Bellekeno Tailings Humidity Cell Dissolved As, Cd, Cu and Ni 

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Lead

, dissolved (mg/L)

Zinc, dissolved (mg/L)

Leach Cycle (Weeks)

Zinc, dissolved Lead, dissolved

0

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

1E‐06

1E‐05

0.0001

0.001

0.01

0.1

1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Arsenic, Copper, Nickel (mg/L)

Cad

mium (mg/L)

Leach Cycle (Weeks)Cadmium, dissolved Arsenic, dissolved Copper, dissolved Nickel, dissolved

Page 17: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    13 

   

Figure 3 Bellekeno Tailings Humidity Cell Alkalinity, Acidity, pH and Sulphate 

Laboratory test results were used previously to assess and predict the pore water quality of the filteredtailings from Bellekeno. This filter press filtrate quality was used to predict environmental effects fromstorageoftailingsintheDryStackTailingsFacility.Table6comparestheactualfilterpressfiltrateoftailingsfrom Bellekeno against the prediction of filter press filtrate quality obtained from laboratory testing onBellekeno. The comparison demonstrates that the actual filter press filtrate is significantly better thanpredictedfromthetestwork.

Table 6 Bellekeno Tailings Filter Press Filtrate Data 

Elements  Units Bellekeno Filter press 

filtrate From Testwork 

Actual Tailings Filter press filtrate Chemistry (Average 2011) 

Actual Tailings Filter press 

filtrate Chemistry  

(Average 2012) 

Sb  mg/L  <0.1 0.0516 0.0498

As  mg/L  <0.2 0.00647 0.00375

Cd  mg/L  0.12 0.00425 0.00465

Ca  mg/L  145 772 768 

Cr  mg/L  <0.01 0.00025 0.0019

Cu  mg/L  0.64 0.403 0.281 

Fe  mg/L  4.77 0.212 0.133 

Pb  mg/L  0.45 0.0990 0.133 

Ag  mg/L  <0.02 0.0236 0.0446

Zn  mg/L  20.31 0.0280 0.0627

7.00

7.10

7.20

7.30

7.40

7.50

7.60

7.70

7.80

7.90

8.00

0.0

200.0

400.0

600.0

800.0

1000.0

1200.0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

pH

as CaCO3mg/L

Leach Cycle

Acidity… Alkalinity, Total… Sulphate (SO4) pH

Page 18: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    14 

   

Ofmostsignificanceisthesignificantlylowerzincconcentrationinthefilterpressfiltrateascomparedtothetestwork. The estimate of 20 mg/L zinc was used as the basis for potential environmental effects ongroundwater from the DSTF and the comparison demonstrates that the initial estimate was highlyconservativeandactualwaterquality is significantly improved. In addition, a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL)layerwasaddedtotheDSTFdesignandhasbeeninstalledbelowtheDSTFfootprintasarequirementunderMMER to capture and measure any seepage from the tailings. The liner feature below the DSTF was notconsidered during the original assessment of the Bellekenomine or a condition of theQML, but rather anoutcomeduringthewaterlicensingphase.ThecombinationofthesubstantiallyhighABAratio(3.8to8.4:1)due to the lower sulphur content of the Onek and LuckyQueen ores, preliminary results of the Bellekenohumiditycelltests,similarityoftheOnekandLuckyQueengeochemicalcharacteristics,considerationoftheactual performance of the Bellekeno tailings and porewater chemistry compared to previously assessedtestwork,andtheadditionofaGCLlayertotheDSTFdesigngiveconsiderableconfidenceandjustificationfordepositingfilteredtailingsfromOnekandLuckyQueenintothecurrentlyauthorizedDSTF.

Alexconotesthatduringoperations,anyDSTFseepageiscollectedandroutedtotheMillPondforuseintheprocessingcircuit.AnydischargesfromtheMillPondrequiretreatmenttoachieveEffluentQualityStandardsunderQZ09‐092.Therehasbeennomilldischargetodatesincethemillwascommissionedinlate2010.AtclosuretheDSTFwillhaveasoilcoverinstalledtoreduceinfiltration, inadditiontoabioreactortoprovideongoinglong‐termwatertreatmentduringthepost‐closureperiod.

Page 19: DSTF COP REV2 - Government of  · PDF fileLucky Queen and Bellekeno deposits will be processed through the District Mill generating composite tailings ... (DSTF) and cement paste

  

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ONEK AND LUCKY QUEEN TAILINGS SEPTEMBER 2012 

 

ONEK‐LQ_TAILS_CHARACTERIZATION_MEMO    15 

   

Table 7 Results of XRD‐Rietveld Mineralogical Analysis (weight %) of Bellekeno Composite Tailings 

Minerals 

Zn Rougher  Tailings  

Zn Cleaner  Tailings  

Final Mill Tailings 

Minerals 

Zn Rougher  Tailings  

Zn Cleaner Tailings  

Final Mill  Tailings 

Minerals 

Zn Rougher Tailings  

Zn Cleaner Tailings  

Final Mill Tailings 

  Final Mill Tailings 

July 2011 Composite 

July 2011 Composite 

July 2011 Composite 

August 2011  

Composite 

August 2011  

Composite 

August 2011  

Composite 

September 2011 

 Composite 

September 2011 

Composite 

September 2011 

 Composite 

February 2012 

 Composite 

Quartz  53.44  47.07  51.27  Quartz  53.36  45.38  54.29  Quartz  51.14  46.86  48.75  47.2 

Siderite  32.16  26.08  34.31  Siderite  30.37  22.27  31.33  Siderite  31.66  25.05  32.79  35.1 

Muscovite  5.53  10.76  4.62  Muscovite  6.33  12.92  5.68  Muscovite  6.39  10.69  6.19  7.3 

Calcite  2.23  5.17  2.92  Calcite  2.77  4.88  2.70  Calcite  3.27  4.42  2.68  2.8 

Sphalerite  1.75  5.17  3.27  Sphalerite  0.94  3.40  1.83  Sphalerite  1.52  2.81  2.76  2.8 

Pyrite  1.96  1.91  2.35  Pyrite  2.10  2.24  2.21  Pyrite  2.56  1.65  2.77  3.1 

Galena  0.18  1.31  0.38  Galena  0.11  1.04  0.27  Galena  0.15  0.71  0.51  0.6 

Plagioclase  2.36  0  0.00  Plagioclase  2.29  2.05  0  Plagioclase  2.54  2.72  0.00  0 

Ankerite  0  1.02  0.66  Ankerite  1.73  0  0.58  Ankerite  0  0.52  0.99  1.1 

Gahnite  0  0  0.23  Gypsum  0  1.20  0  Gypsum  0  1.22  0  0 

Chalcopyrite  0.27  0  0  Rutile  0  0.67  0  Arsenopyrite  0  0  0.33  0 

Clinochlore  0  0.86  0  Clinochlore  0  1.79  0  Clinochlore  0.78  1.26  0.97  0 

Rutile  0  0.65  0  Clinozoisite  0  2.17  0  Clinozoisite  0  2.11  0.00  0 

Wurtzite  0.12  0  0  K‐feldspar  0  0  1.13  K‐feldspar  0  0  1.26  0 

Total  100.0  100.0  100.0  Total  100.0  100.0  100.0  Total  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0